Piston



J. FLAMMANG.

PISTON.

APPLlcATloN FILED rEB.25,191s.

Patented Aug. 31, 1920. E

f l l DIME E- UNITED sTvArs's JOI-IN FLAMMANG, 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, .ASSIGNOR TO OTTMAR Gr.

LOUIS, MISSOURI.

PATENT OFFICE.

STARK, OF ST.

IPISTON.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ,loi-1N FLAMMANG, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis'and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Piston, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to pistons.

An object of thel invention is to provide a piston which dispenses with the use of piston rings and every other kind of packing and which, because of qualities inherent in its construction, presses closely against the cylinder wall and prevents the passage or escape of the gas, steam or other piston operating agent, and at the same time conforms to all requirements of efficient operation.

Another object is to provide a piston omitting the use of piston rings and packing composed of an eXpansible portion arranged to fit within a cylinder and press closely against the cylinder wall throughout its circumference, and a head or top plate secured to the eXpansible portion.

A general object of the invention is to provide an improved piston which will function properly and with a high degree of efficiency and which dispenses entirely with the use of all kinds of packing.

Various other objects and numerous advantages will appear from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings illustrating the piston in several stages of its construction from the rough casting to the finished piston, and in which- Figure 1 is a view partly in section illustrating a form of casting from which a piston may be formed in accordance with my invention. l

Fig. 2 is a view illustrating the casting after several steps or stages of treatment.

Fig. 3 is a view of the casting after the metal has been placed under tension so as to impart pressure against the cylinder wall when the piston is in the cylinder. Y Fig. t is an elevation of the casting, the metal above the wrist pin being held under tension ready for the casting to be finished as to its circumferential surface.

Fig. 5 is a view illustrating the casting held under tension within a cylinder, in which the treatment ofthe body of the piston is finished and made ready for the head plate tobe applied thereto.k

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

Application filed February 25, 1918. Serial No. 219,096.

AFig. 6 is an elevation of the finished piston.

F 1g. 7 is a sectional view of the finished piston mounted within a cylinder. t. The casting from which the piston body is formed in the particular form illustrated, comprises a lower ring l, an upper ring 2 and a pair of diametrically opposite connections 3 by whichthe upper and lower rings are integrally united.

An inwardly extending boss l is integral with each of the connections 3 and preferably' there are two alined arms 5 extending inwardly from diametrically opposite sides of the upper ring 2 above the bosses et. As shown, each of the arms 5 is formed with an upward extension 6 at its inner end, said extensions being spaced apart a suitable distance so that when it is desired to compress yring 2 of the casting is also cut on diametrically opposite sides midway between the connections 3, as indicated at 8. While the cuts 8, as shown, are vertical it will be understood, of course, that they may be inclined or otherwise formed at the option of the manufacturer or user. The relative order of the various steps or stages just described in the manufacture of the piston is unimportant and, of course, I do not restrict myself to unessential details in this particular.

After the upper ring has been cut in the desired manner and the inclined holes 7 have been formed, a wrist pin 9 is forced into the holes 7. The wrist pin ts closely within the holes and therefore in order to insert the wrist pin it is necessary to bend or spread apart to a slight extent the connections 3 until the holes 7 are in accurate alinement in which shape the material will be held by the wrist pin. The wrist pin may, if desired, be positively held or locked in its proper position by set screws 10 mounted in the bosses 4.

Next, the Vtwo separated parts of the upper ring 2 are forced toward each other in order to bend inwardly and place under tension the connections 3 above the wrist pin. This may be accomplished by passing a bolt 11 through holes in the extensions 6 of the arms 5 and turning the nut on the bolt until the proper result is attained. While the casting is thus retained undertension the periphery ot the casting is ground or turned and finished to the diameter of the cylinder for which it is intended, it being understood that the lower ring 1 is of slightly less diameter than the diameter of the cylinder. Thus, when the piston is placed within the cylinder after being inished, pressure will be imparted against the cylinder wall all around, due to the fact that when the open ring 2 was iinished it was held underteIL sion to the diameter of the cylinder, and y when released from the compressing device the resiliency of the metal will cause the ring 2 to exert the required pressure against the wall of the cylinder.

` fitter the periphery of the piston has been finished while the material is held under tension as described, the piston is placed within a cylinder 12 (Fig. 5) ot' the same diameter as the diameter ot the cylinder for which the piston is intended, thus holding the piston compressed under tension after the bolt 11 is removed. The upper portion of the ring 2 is then cut away below the arms 5, and, in the form shown, an internal groove 13 is formedgin the open ring 2. Also, either before the piston is placed in the cylinder or after removal therefrom, as desired, a number ot circumferential grooves 14 are formed in the lower ring 1 which grooves are adapt ed to receive an oil or lubricant whereby the necessary lubricant is applied between the piston and the cylinder in which it operates. T he top or head plate 15 ot the piston seats upon the ring 2 and is 'ormed with a cylindrical portion 16 extending into the ring 2. The part 16 is formed with a circumferential flangc 17 engaging within the groove 13 and thus locking the top or head plate with the body of the piston. It will be understood that the use of the locking flange 17 is optional and that any other appropriate form of device for holding the top plate in connection with the body of the piston may be used.

The spaces between the ends of the separated parts ofthe ring 2 are closed as to the passage of the gas or other piston operating agent by keys in the form of plates 18 seated in grooves formed in the ends of the ring sections and in the top or head plate of the piston. Thus the plates 18 in addition to preventing the passage of gas between the ends oi the ring sections also lock or holdV the top plate in connection with the body of the piston, making it unnecessary to employ the retaining vflange 17 unless desired. rl`he keys in no way interfere with the Vfreedom of expansion land compression of the piston.

The diameter and circumference of the top or head plate 15 very closely approximate the internal diameter and circumference of the cylinder in which the piston is to operate, so that when the upper ring of the body of the piston is compressed and the piston is placed within the cylinder the diameter ot' the top or head plate and the diameter' of the upper ring oi' the piston body are very nearly the same. However, before the piston is compressed within the cylinder the upper open ring oi' the piston body is of larger diameter in the plane ot the axis of the wrist pin than the diameter ot the top or head plate, the relative arrangement ot the parts being clearly understood by reference to Fig. 6.

The upper edge of the ring 1 is beveled to provide a scraping edge 19 which during upward movement of the piston will se 1ape the oil 'from thecylinder wall; and the lower edge of the ring 2 is beveled to provide a scraping edge 20 which during downward movement ot the piston will scrape the oilA from the cylinder wall.

From the foregoing it will be understood that my invention is broadly a pistondispensing entirely with the use of piston rings and packing of every kind, and which is so constructed that the necessary pressure is imparted against the cylinder wall to prevent the passage of gas, steam or the like. The resiliency of the metal permits treeexpansion and contraction of the piston to accommodate itself to any and all variations in the cylinder so that the piston will function properly and with perfect eiciency all the time.

l do not restrict myself to any particular mode ormanner of constructing the piston in order to utilize the resiliency of the metal to effect the desired results.

I claim:

1. A piston, comprising a split upper ring, a lower ring, connections integrally uniting the upper and lower rings, a piston head detachably supported by the upper ring, and means cooperating with said connections to impart outward pressure to the upper ring to cause it to press against the wall of the cylinder in which the piston is mounted.

2. A piston, comprising an upper ring, a lower ring, connections integrally uniting the upper and lower rings and being tensioned to press the upper ring outwardly against the wall of the cylinder in which the piston is mounted, and a piston head plate supported by the upper ring and permitting the upper ring to expand and contract.

S. A piston, comprising an upper ring, a

lower ring, connections integrally unitig. the

"upper and lower rings and being tensioned to press the upper ring outwardly against the wall of the cylinder in which the piston is mounted, a piston head plate supported by the upper ring and permitting the upper ring to expand and contract, and a wrist pin supported by said connections.

a. A piston, comprising an upper ring composed of separate segmental sections, a lower ring, connections integrally uniting the lower ring with the respective segmental sectionsotL the upper ring and being tensioned to press the segmental sections of the upper ring against the wall oi the cylinder in'which the piston is mounted, and a piston head plate supported by the segmental sections ot the upper ring and permitting eX- pansion andcompression of the upper ring.

5. A piston, comprising an upper ring composed of separate segmental sections, a lower ring, connections integrally uniting the lower ring with the'respective segmental sections of the upper ring and being tensioned to press the segmental sections of the upper ring against the wall of the cylinder in which the piston is mounted, a piston head plate supported by the segmental sec- 4 tions or the upper ring and permitting eX- pansion and compression or"l the upper ring, and an oil scraping device in connection with the upper ring for scraping the oil from the wall or the cylinder during downward movement or' the piston.

6. Ai piston, comprising an upper ring composed oi separate segmental sections, a lower ring, connections integrally uniting the respective sections the upper ring with the lower ring, and being tensioned to press said segmental sections against the wall of the cylinder in which the piston is mounted, and a piston head plate removably supported by the segmental sections of the upper ring independently of the lower ring.

7. A piston, comprising an upper ring composed of separate segmental sections, a lower ring, connections integrally uniting the respective sections of the upper ring with the loweriing, and beine tensioned to press said segmental sections against the wall of the cylinder in which the piston is mounted, a piston head plate removably supported by the segmental sections of the upper ring independently of the lower ring, and means for holding the piston and head plate in connection with said sections and leaving said sections free Jiter expanding and contracting movements.

8. A piston, comprising an upper ring composed ol2 separate segmental sections, a lower ring, resilient connections integrally uniting` the respective sections of the upper ring with the lower ring and arranged to press said sections yieldingly against the wall of the cylinder in which the piston is mounted, and a piston head supported by said sections of the upper ring independently of the lower ring.

i). A. piston, comprising a ring composed of separate segmental sections, resilient members integral with said sections for pressing said sections outwardly against the wall of the cylinder in which the piston is mounted, and a head plate in connection with said segmental sections.

l0. A piston, comprising a number oi': segmental sections, resilient members integral with said sections Ytor pressing said sections koutwardly again the wall or the cylinder in which the piston is mounted, a piston head plate in connection with said segmental sections, and means for locking the head plate in connection with said sections.

1l. a piston, comprising a number of segmental sections, resilient members l'or pressing said sections against the wall of the cylinder in which the piston is mounted, a piston head plate supported by said sections and permitting expanding and contracting movements of said sections, means for closing the spaces between the ends of said sections to prevent the passage of gas, and .a wrist pin in connection with said resilient members.

l2. A piston, comprising a number of segmental sections, a ring, resilient members connecting said ring with said sections rcspectively for pressing said sections against the wall of the cylinder in which the piston is mounted, and a head plate supported by said sections independently of said ring.

13. A piston, comprising a number oi' segmental sections, a ring, resilient members connecting said ring and said sections respectively for pressing said sections outwardly against the wall of the cylinder in which the piston is mounted, a wrist pin supported by said members, and a head plate supported by said sections independently or" said ring and said wrist pin.

14. A piston, comprising a number of segmental sections, a ring, resilient members connecting said ring and said sections respectively for pressing said sections outwardly against the wall of the cylinder in which the piston is mounted, a wrist pin supported by said members, a head plate supported by said sections independently oi? said ring and said wrist pin, and mea-ns closing the spaces between the ends of said sections to prevent the passage of gas therethrough.

l5. A piston comprising a body composed ot a lower ring, a split upper ring, and connections integrally uniting the lower' and upper rings; a top plate secured to the upper ring; and a device closing the space between the ends of the upper ring.

16. A piston comprising a body composed ot a lower ring, an open upper ring of larger diameter than the diameter of the cylinder for which the piston is intended, and connections integrally uniting the lower and upper rings; a wrist pin rigid with said con- "effi neetions; a top plate removably connected to the upper ring; uml keys holding the top plate in connection with the upper ring.

l?. fr piston comprising` a body composed a lower ring, an upper ring or nirger maineter than the diameter of the eynnder for wnicli the piston is intended, and oonneotions inte'm'illy uniting the lower and upper rings; wrist pin rigid with said connections; a top plate upon the upper ring; and keys holding the top plate in connection with the upper ring;` and closing the space between the ends of? the upper ring.

i8. .'r piston7 comprising` a piston body baking a resilient upper poi eion Capable of expaniling to a size in excess of the size of the cylinder for which the piston is intended anal arranged to expand to press against the cylinder "all by the resiliency ol" tne material of said npper portion, a lower portion, connections integrally uniting` the upper and lower portions, and a piston head plate snpportecl by the exp'ansible upper portion of the piston body.

'19. EL piston, comprising a piston body lim/'ing' a resilient upper portion arranged to expand to press against :L cylinder wall by the resiliency o'E Athe material, and :1. head plate for the piston supported by said resilient portion.

JOHN FLAMls/NG. 

